21. What results from knowing God and continuing to follow a course that he approves?

²¹ As we continue to act in harmony with godly wisdom as revealed to us in God’s Word and in answer to our prayers, what will result? By means of his spirit, Jehovah God will continue to help us to make advancement in developing a godly personality. The “force” or driving element that is ‘actuating our minds’ will move us to conform ever closer to God’s righteous standards. (Eph. 4:20-24) God’s commands will not just be words printed in a book. Rather, they will be a part of our very being, impressed upon our mind and heart. We will know what they mean and appreciate their exceedingly high value from having experienced the benefits that come from obeying them. (Ps. 119:1-16, 74-77, 164-168) We will, as the apostle Paul states, be able to ‘prove to ourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’​—Rom. 12:2.

How You Benefit from Pursuing Godly Devotion

“To be sure, it is a means of great gain, this godly devotion along with self-sufficiency.”​—1 Tim. 6:6.

1. Who alone pursue a course of godly devotion, and what comes to them?

ONLY those who accurately know God, and act in harmony with what they know, are in position to worship him in the proper way. They alone may be said to follow a course of “godly devotion” or reverentialness. Pursuing this course results in lasting gain. “To be sure,” wrote the apostle Paul to the young Christian overseer Timothy, “it is a means of great gain, this godly devotion along with self-sufficiency.” (1 Tim. 6:6) “Godly devotion is beneficial for all things, as it holds promise of the life now and that which is to come.” (1 Tim. 4:8) Notice that Paul says that godly devotion brings, not just future reward, but “great gain” and ‘benefits’ now.

2. What does 1 Timothy 3:16 call to our attention regarding godly devotion?

² Just what is “godly devotion” or reverentialness? No better answer can there be to this question than the example of one who maintained godly devotion perfectly. The Bible points to one man as that example. At 1 Timothy 3:16 we read: “Indeed, the sacred secret of this godly devotion [literally, this revering well] is admittedly great: ‘He was made manifest in flesh, was declared righteous in spirit, appeared to angels, was preached about among nations, was believed upon in the world, was received up in glory.’” Who was this one, and how was this sacred secret worked out in connection with him?

3. (a) What questions arose respecting godly devotion about six thousand years ago, and why? (b) In what sense was the answer to that question a “sacred secret”?

³ About six thousand years ago the question